This page contains a list of questions and answers asked of the Staff Advisory Committee. We will add to it as new topics arise. Please feel to ask questions anonymously using the StaffAC Feedback Form or contact a StaffAC member directly.

Whom does the Staff Advisory Committee advise?

The primary group that will receive your input will be the Administrative or President's Council, depending on the subject and the impact of the recommendation. At times, this could be just one director or VP. At other times, it could be the whole group.

What are the powers of the Committee? Is it to be a voice for the staff? If so who will listen to that voice?

The StaffAC is supposed to be a voice for staff and the committee's goal is to represent your respective areas. The primary purpose is to improve communication with the administration. The idea was to get staff issues on the table and addressed in an on-going manner, rather than waiting for a staff survey, which is not given on a regular basis. The committee has been asked to be the liaison between the staff advisory group and the administration. It would be the committee's responsibility to get the right people together and to help facilitate the process of getting a response or resolution to the issues raised. This is the role the committee plays with the issues raised by the staff survey.

If there is an issue that the Committee considers important and should be pursued then what can it do? Does the StaffAC, or a representative, meet with someone in the administration?

Pam Barkett of Human Resources would act as a liaison. For example, let's say there is an issue with mail services. Pam's job would be to get background information, if available to the StaffAC and then, get the StaffAC or its selected subset together with the appropriate decision-makers in mail services. (By either inviting them to the meeting or helping set up a meeting between the two parties) She would reinforce the fact that the StaffAC is representing staff and that it is in the best interest of the department to address the issues raised. Pam would be the one that StaffAC comes to if they have concerns about getting a response from a department and would also advise the StaffAC if there are any cautions or if there may be an alternative approach that would be more successful.

How does the StaffAC communicate with the people they're representing?

Some ways could be: a) word of mouth, b) email, c) MyFurman, d) web page on the www.furman.edu site. Depending on the department, you may need to use all of these in some way. For example, word of mouth, paper and e-mail could be used as tools for gathering input from colleagues about issues. E-mail, StaffAC web site and MyFurman are ways to let everyone know about your issues and the outcomes---to reinforce the fact that the committee is working and has an impact.

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